System X: The Villain Rise

Kaiza was less shocked by the man's shapeshifting than by the realization that this was the same man who had tried to kill him and injected him with that mysterious fluid.

"Gwan, why are you here?" Sulan demanded after reverting to his true form.

"I could ask you the same thing. Why are you here?"

"Why should I tell you that?" Sulan shot back.

"You don't have to," Gwan replied with a cold smirk. "But let me make this clear: you're not leaving here with that boy. It would be better for you to walk out those doors quietly without causing a scene. Otherwise, I'll make sure you end up behind bars, and I'll personally oversee your time in jail. And don't think your master Zorin will lift a finger to help you."

"Stop bluffing, Gwan. You're no better than me," Sulan snapped.

"Really?" Gwan smirked. "Then let's settle this with a bet. If you beat me, I'll let you have the boy."

"You don't even have the boy yet, so how do you plan to prove your claims?" Sulan retorted, narrowing his eyes.

Gwan raised an eyebrow. "What does your Raider say?"

"What do you mean?"

"The boy is here, Sulan. But you're too blind to see him," Gwan replied with a mocking smile.

"Don't you dare repeat that line!"

"You said the same thing last time," Gwan taunted. "But guess what? You didn't do anything. You just ended up—"

"Stop!" Sulan interrupted, his face flushing with anger.

"—getting butt-spanked by me," Gwan finished with a laugh.

"Shut your mouth!" Sulan growled. He clicked a hidden mechanism on his dagger, and in an instant, it transformed into a blade longer than a standard dagger but not quite as long as a sword.

The two men launched into a fierce battle, their movements quick and precise, filling the room with the sound of clashing metal. The fight persisted, neither willing to back down.

Sulan fought with raw rage, his face flushed as he poured every ounce of his strength into striking at Gwan. His attacks were wild and relentless, driven by frustration and fury.

In stark contrast, Gwan moved with a casual ease, as though he were sparring with a novice student at the Man-Tans secret agent training grounds. His calm demeanor only served to enrage Sulan further, prompting him to charge in with even greater force, his attacks becoming more reckless by the second.

Kaiza, observing the battle, couldn't help but marvel at the stark difference in their approaches. It became clear to him that mastering fighting skills required more than brute strength or anger. Gwan's movements were calculated and precise, as though he could read Sulan's mind. He didn't just excel in combat; he had mastered the art of predicting his opponent's next move, countering each strike with almost effortless precision.

It was no wonder he had humiliated Sulan in their last fight.

As the fight dragged on, Gwan began to grow bored of Sulan's repetitive and predictable techniques. With a sudden burst of speed, he counterattacked, landing a powerful strike that sent Sulan staggering backward. Sulan skidded several feet across the floor, the distance between them now substantial.

For a moment, the room was silent, save for the sound of Sulan struggling to regain his footing. Kaiza's eyes widened as he realized just how outmatched Sulan was.

"Sulan, it's been ages since we last fought, and you haven't improved one bit. Is that really all you've got?" Gwan taunted, his voice laced with mockery.

"Just shut your mouth!" Sulan roared, launching another furious attack.

Gwan smirked. He was deliberately provoking Sulan, pushing him to fight harder—not out of malice, but as a way to test his limits. Though their relationship had turned adversarial, their history as childhood friends and former classmates added a layer of complexity to the fight. To Gwan, this wasn't a battle to the death but a measure of Sulan's growth, or lack thereof.

Sulan's attacks became slightly more refined under the pressure of Gwan's prodding, but to Gwan, it was still a routine spar. He had faced far more dangerous opponents, warriors who made Sulan look like an amateur.

Kaiza, meanwhile, watched the battle intently, absorbing every movement and strategy. To him, this was more than a fight—it was a lesson. Gwan's flawless dodges, calm demeanor, and calculated counters captivated him. Unlike Sulan, Gwan wasn't restless or consumed by anger. His composure and skill were a stark contrast to Sulan's chaotic energy, and Kaiza couldn't help but admire him. At that moment, Gwan was becoming a silent role model in Kaiza's heart.

Suddenly, a faint sound from the entrance caught Gwan's attention. Without missing a beat, he placed a hand on the small device in his ear, all while effortlessly fending off Sulan's relentless attacks.

The device amplified distant conversations, and Gwan picked up the unmistakable chatter of military men. The clinking of metal echoed faintly in the background, confirming their approach.

Gwan's expression shifted slightly as he processed the information. If the military intervened, things could escalate beyond control. He decided it was time to bring the fight to a halt—for Sulan's sake as much as his own.

Gwan moved with lightning speed, his flash skill making him almost impossible to track. Sulan couldn't see him. And even Kaiza struggled to follow his movements. In the blink of an eye, Gwan appeared behind Sulan and delivered a precise strike to his neck. The blow rendered Sulan powerless and half-paralyzed, his body collapsing Like a puppet with its strings cut.

Gwan's actions weren't out of cruelty but necessity. He knew Sulan all too well — his stubbornness and determination would lead him to reckless decisions. Sulan would stop nothing to complete this mission, even if it meant getting himself into deeper trouble. Gwan also understood the Larger stakes: Sulan was already a wanted target in multiple cities. With the law prepared to act swiftly and harshly upon his arrest.

Instead of abandoning him to his fate, Gwan hoisted Sulan onto his shoulder and walked towards the window with deliberate steps. Before leaving, he let a small piece of paper fall to the floor, its Purpose unclear to Kaiza.

As Gwan moved towards the open window, Kaiza's mind raced with questions.

"What's going on? Why did they leave?" He murmured, still processing the sudden turn of events.

He had just started to immerse himself in the intense scene, marveling atGwan's skill, when everything changed in an instant. The mysterious man had taken down Sulan and was now carrying him away, leaving Kaiza more confused than ever.

Kaiza watched as Gwan did something he couldn't quite make out. Moments later. The half-conscious Sulan Was gone, carried away into the unknown.

As Kaiza stood up and approached the window to figure out what had just happened, the door suddenly swung open. His system immediately sent him a notification:

[Hide mode over]

Kaiza's invisibility ended, and he became visible again just as a group of military men entered the room.

"What's going on here?" one of the soldiers asked, his voice firm and commanding as he looked directly at Kaiza.

Kaiza hesitated for a moment, scanning the room before responding. "Nothing," he finally said, his voice calm.

He noticed something peculiar as he scanned the area: the room was exactly as it had been before he had fallen asleep. Not a single thing had been disturbed. The intense fight he had just witnessed hadn't left a trace. It dawned on him that this was thanks to Gwan's incredible control. Despite the heated battle, Gwan had ensured nothing was damaged. His calm demeanor wasn't just for show—it was deliberate, a reflection of his skill and the fact that Sulan was his friend.

The soldier gave the room a quick once-over. Satisfied that everything appeared in order, he nodded and retreated with his men, shutting the door behind them.

The moment they left, Kaiza moved quickly to the window, his eyes searching for any sign of Gwan or Sulan. His thoughts raced. How did Gwan know where I was, even with the system's hide mode? Why was he here to protect me? And why had he ordered his men to find me?

Kaiza's questions swirled as he bent down and picked up the piece of paper Gwan had dropped. His hands trembled slightly as he unfolded it and began to read, desperate for answers.

The first thing Kaiza's eyes landed on when he picked up the letter was the logo stamped on it. His heart skipped a beat. It was the same symbol that had appeared on his palm earlier that day.

"What?" Kaiza exclaimed under his breath, his mind racing.

He stared at the logo, trying to make sense of its connection to everything that had happened so far. The more he thought about it, the more confused he became. Who left this card? He wondered aloud, replaying the scene in his mind, hoping to identify who among the Iniquity workers might have dropped it.

As he sifted through his thoughts, nothing seemed to add up. No one in the room had acted suspiciously, and there were no clear clues as to who had left the letter behind.

After a long pause, Kaiza finally came to a conclusion. The letter could only have come from one person—Gwan. His reasoning was simple: if Sulan had truly been on his side, he wouldn't have tried to get rid of him earlier. The Live Hunter alert from his system also made it clear that Gwan had an interest in him, and that sealed the deal. It had to be Gwan. And for some reason, that thought made Kaiza feel a wave of relief and happiness.

With a deep breath, Kaiza carefully broke the seal and unfolded the letter, eager to discover what message it held.

The letter Kaiza held in his hands was brief but filled with hidden meaning. The first part was straightforward, welcoming him into the world of the Heroes organization:

Dear H-Kai,

Glad to write to you. Welcome into the world of the Heroes organization. Hoping to meet you soon.

But as Kaiza read further, he could immediately tell that the additional content had been carefully added afterward, separate from the original message. The tone shifted, becoming more serious, as the letter revealed more about the situation:

Kaiza paused, his mind racing. The letter had been written with a sense of urgency, but something bothered him. The mention of a "threat" made him uneasy, and though he felt a glimmer of hope upon reading that he had been welcomed into the Heroes organization, another question weighed heavily on his mind.

But who are they?

He couldn't shake the feeling that he was being pulled into something far bigger than he could understand, something that tied into the strange logo, the military's presence, and Gwan's role in all of it. He was grateful for the support, but the shadows of uncertainty loomed large.